A man breaks a window as a crowd of US President Donald Trump’s supporters storm the US Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021.
Leah Millis | Reuters
Prosecutors in impeachment proceedings against former President Donald Trump will come up with new evidence showing that he spent weeks laying the groundwork for the January 6th Capitol uprising and that he “continued to instigate it” after the violence began “said senior aides on Tuesday.
“The evidence of Trump’s guilt on this case is overwhelming,” House impeachment executives told reporters hours before the Senate impeachment process was due to begin.
Aides said it is possible that after hearing a so-called devastating case, Republican senators will decide to condemn Trump and prevent him from ever taking the presidency again.
“As soon as you see that this president actually instigated a violent insurrection in order to stay in power, I think that reluctant senators may very well change their minds and vote for condemnation,” aides said.
But these aides would not provide details on this new evidence against Trump.
“Hold on,” they said.
For Trump to be convicted, at least 17 Republican Senators must join the 48 Senate Democrats and two Senate independents to find Trump guilty.
This seems unlikely, at least for the time being, as 45 Republicans previously voted in favor of the argument that impeachment proceedings against a former president like Trump are illegal.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) meets with fellow impeachment executives before walking through the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol to the Senate Chamber in Washington, DC on Monday, February 8, 2021.
Sarah Silbiger | Getty Images
Some of these senators had said that didn’t necessarily mean they would vote to acquit Trump in court.
The impeachment manager staff said they were convinced of the strength of the case.
“The House will find in court that President Trump deserves a conviction and disqualification for holding and enjoying any office of honor, confidence or profit in the United States,” the aides said.
They also said the House Prosecutors’ presentation would be like a “violent crime prosecution” because
Trump is alleged to have instigated the violent invasion of the convention halls shortly after a rally near the White House where he urged supporters to “help him in the fight” to block the confirmation of Joe Biden’s victory as president.
Thousands of Trump supporters rioted around and in the Capitol complex shortly after this rally, which interrupted a joint congressional session at which Biden’s victory was officially signed.
Five people died in connection with the mess, including a Capitol cop and a Trump supporter who was shot and killed by a police officer when she tried to climb through a window near the house’s chamber.
The uprising caused senators and members of the House of Representatives to flee for security reasons and hide in safe places for hours.
Aides who spoke to reporters Tuesday morning said “this is personal” to the members of the House on the impeachment team because they were among the people affected by the riot.
“You don’t take it lightly,” said the helpers.
